Jobs That Pay 50k a Year With No Degree

Most people assume that you need a college degree to earn an excellent annual salary. While college is important, it is not for everyone for various reasons. More importantly, some jobs pay 50k a year without a degree requirement. Even better, these jobs aren’t difficult to come across and often have a reasonable median salary if you know where to look.

Four-year degrees are excellent for advancing your career, but they’re not for everyone. This article will help you learn about the numerous jobs that pay 50k a year without a degree being necessary. By the end of this article, you will know how to make 50k a year without a degree, equipped with all the information necessary to land a job that pays you well.

What Skills Do You Need to Land a 50k-a-Year Job?

To land a job that pays 50k a year without a degree, you need to have various soft skills and technical skills, which you will have gained through on-the-job training or through other training or certification programs such as internships or apprenticeships. Below are some of the key soft skills you’ll need to have to land jobs that pay 50k a year with no degree. 

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills are fundamental for jobs that don’t require a degree because these jobs entail a lot of one-on-one interaction. When you work in a position where you must interact with many people, your communication, listening, and attitude all play an essential role in determining your career success. 

Problem-Solving Skills

Since the majority of the jobs featured in this article are related to trade jobs, you will need to have the ability to solve problems on the spot. When working a job that pays 50k a year without a degree, you are bound to run into some unexpected issues that will require you to resolve them immediately without speaking to a superior.

Teamwork Skills

Teamwork is a skill that you must hone because it is critical. Teamwork skills apply to all professions because every position requires working effectively with a team. You must put aside your differences and work without bias and efficiently to achieve the job’s goal.

Willingness to Learn

Most jobs that pay 50k a year require on-the-job training, which means it’s important you’re willing and ready to learn from experienced professionals in the field. If you are unwilling to learn and develop your skills in an area, you will not be able to start a career in the field. 

Attention to Detail

When working in a role, like as a firefighter, in which you have to deal with human lives and properties, you need to be well-versed in paying attention to details. Other people’s lives depend on it. It’s important to be detail-oriented because employers will want to know that you care and are careful in doing your job. 

What Education Do You Need to Get a 50k-a-Year Job?

You can get a job that pays 50k a year without a college degree. All you need to do is find the essential and relevant skills for the job and effectively develop those skills and you will attain a high median salary relative to other positions. With a high school diploma or on-the-job training, you can land a job that pays 50k a year or more.

Why College Is Not for Everyone

There are various reasons why college is not for everyone. For students who don’t qualify for government funding, their only options are to take out student loans and go into debt or abandon the idea of college altogether. Additionally, a college degree doesn’t guarantee you a good career or even a job within the field you studied. 

While the benefits of college can’t be refuted, it simply isn’t necessary for everyone. Although bootcamps and massive open online courses (MOOCs) aren’t equivalent alternatives, they are great options for furthering your education without the commitment and debt that college often requires. Even with no education, 50k salary jobs are available for people with the right skills.

Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Get a 50k a Year Job?

A coding bootcamp can help you get a 50k a year job without a degree. Coding bootcamps equip students with the relevant skills needed to start a career in technology. Through a coding bootcamp, you can start a career that will help you earn even more than 50k a year as a data analyst, software engineer, game developer, or web developer, among other possibilities.

How to Get a 50k-a-Year Job With a GED

Without a college degree to back you up, more preparation may be needed to get noticed and land a 50k job. If you want to know how to make 50k a year without a degree in a job you enjoy, the list below will help you. Filling the requirements for jobs that pay over 50k with a GED or high school diploma as the educational qualifications still takes special skills and expertise.  

Research the Skills Required for the Role

To get a job that pays at least 50k a year without a degree, start researching for open jobs that fit this profile. When you do your research, choose the role that you desire and see if you have the skills required for the position. It is essential to do this to avoid applying for a job and getting turned down due to a lack of adequate skills. 

Research the Training Required for the Role

Some jobs require you to have a specific level of training or certification before applying. This is why you need to research the requirements for the role. If there is a formal training program to attend, you will need to know about it and prepare for it. Some jobs require you to participate in a trade school or technical school to start a career in the field.

Develop your Skills

Finding out the skills required for the role is an excellent first step. The next thing you need to do is develop those skills. Even if you don’t have those qualifications yet, knowing them can help put you on the path to developing or improving the skills necessary for the position. This enables you to qualify for the role and be a more competitive candidate for a job with a high median salary.

Get a Training or Certification for the Role

If the role requires certification or training, you should enroll in a relevant program to qualify for the position. Some roles only require on-the-job training or apprenticeship, meaning you only need to find a professional in the field and apply to be an apprentice under them. This teaches you the skills required for the role and helps you gain real-life job experience. 

Work on Your Resume

Your resume is an important document for sharing your experience, education, and skills with potential employers. It’s important to tailor your resume for each of the jobs you apply for. Writing a strong resume will help you stand out from other applicants and get noticed by employers and recruiters. Find templates online that can help you refine your resume.

Build Connections

In our social world, networking is important if you want to land a 50k-a-year job without having a college education. Attend networking events and industry events, and connect with other professionals in industry communities or on platforms like LinkedIn. Getting your name out there, interacting with people, and sharing your goals will help you reach them more quickly.

Apply for Jobs

Once you have the certification or training you need to start a career in this field, you can apply for an entry-level position. Most recommend starting with entry-level roles because they require the least qualifications and fewest years of experience, making them easier to get.

High-Paying 50k-a-Year Jobs Without a College Degree

Job	Average Salary	Outlook
Water Transportation Worker	$62,760	12%
Flight Attendant	$61,640	30%
Electrician	$60,040	9%
Plumber	$59,880	5%
Food Service Manager	$59,440	15%
Lodging Manager	$59,430	9%
Property Manager	$59,230	3%
Ironworker	$57,160	6%
Firefighter	$50,700	8%
Insurance Sales Agent	$49,840	7%

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Best 50k-a-Year Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree: A Closer Look

Water Transportation Worker

Water transportation workers use vessels to transport people and cargo over water. They transport the vessels between foreign and domestic ports. They are in charge of transporting passengers to and from ports and vessel maintenance. Water transportation workers adhere to their vessels’ strict chain of command to ensure the safety of the people and cargo on board.

There are no education requirements to work this job, which pays 50k a year without a degree. A high school diploma will suffice. However, as time goes on, you may want to get some certifications to help you advance in your career and reach higher positions in the field. Water transportation workers are well-paid regardless of their degree level.

Flight Attendant

Flight attendants attend to the safety, security, and comfort needs of the passengers of an airplane. Their job duties include performing safety checks before takeoff, offering passengers food and beverages, demonstrating emergency procedures to passengers, and preparing and submitting detailed reports on flight incidents.

They can often work long flight hours on charter flights but have the option to travel all over the world and see new places on the job. Flight attendants earn above the minimum wage, with an average of about $59,050 annually. They also do not require a degree to start in the field. Flight attendants only need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Electrician

Electricians work to inspect a building, draft a plan for the electrical wiring of the building, and install, maintain, and repair the electrical systems, wiring, and fixtures of the building. They also work on lighting, power, control, and communications systems. They work on residential, commercial, and industrial buildings alongside elevator installers and contractors to ensure safety procedures and company practices are met.

Electricians are one of the highest-paid professionals without a college degree, as the typical requirement for starting a career as an electrician is on-the-job training. Interested applicants should also have the skills necessary to excel in this field, including strong communication skills, collaboration skills, and teamwork skills.

Plumber

Plumbers install, maintain, and repair pipes, valves, drainage systems, and fixtures in commercial, residential, and industrial buildings. To do their job, they may need to look over the blueprints or building plans to see the layout and install the systems. They also collaborate with other professionals to ensure that nothing overlaps.

This job that pays 50k a year without a degree is essential in the construction industry because every structure requires a drainage system and water-running pipes to function. This makes it one of the highest-paying jobs available without a college diploma. You can begin a career as a plumber with a high school diploma and on-the-job training.

Food Service Manager

Food service managers work in restaurants to manage the daily operations and activities of the restaurant. They ensure that the space is clean and welcoming to customers, attend to customers’ needs, deal with customer complaints and issues, and hire and train restaurant staff. They also deal with the ordering of restaurant food supplies and equipment.

Food service managers do not need a college degree to begin their careers and can start with relevant training in the field and a high school diploma. They may also be required to have several years of experience working in a restaurant, though not necessarily in a managerial role.

Lodging Manager

Lodging managers work in hotels, motels, and other temporary lodging establishments to ensure guests get the best service. They register and welcome guests, inspect guest rooms, and ensure the overall smooth operation of the facility. They also have to ensure that the facility meets the company standards in terms of services and appearance.

Lodging managers are in charge of setting room rates, maintenance budgets, and allocating funds to different departments. The typical requirements of a lodging manager job are a high school diploma and experience in the hospitality management field. 

Property Manager

Property managers are in charge of the financial and operational management of a building, including residential, commercial, and industrial properties. They are in charge of the entire building’s management, including tenant communication, property maintenance, and rent collection. They are also responsible for advertising vacancies, determining the rent for the space, and screening and approving tenants.

Ironworker

Ironworkers are professionals who heat, cut, bend, and install iron and steel frames in buildings, bridges, and roads. They are also known as welders, fabricators, or assemblers. They work with other professionals to bring steel frames, plans, sketches, and designs to life and ensure that they are rigid, stable, and agile.

The skills required for a job as an ironworker include physical fitness, analytical thinking, communication skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in trade tools. To work as an ironworker, you only need to get on-the-job training as an apprentice for a stipulated time before joining the field as a professional.

Firefighter

Firefighters are professionals who respond to fire alarms, medical emergencies, and other life-threatening calls to rescue and save lives and properties using sophisticated equipment and tools. A firefighter’s job isn’t limited to fire rescues alone, as they can also work in natural disasters, car crashes, and chemical spills.

Some of the skills required to be a firefighter are excellent communication skills, teamwork, great attention to detail, time management skills, physical fitness, decision-making skills, and spatial awareness. Firefighters work to save lives, hence the need to have these skills. The minimum requirement for working as a firefighter is a high school diploma, after which you get on-the-job training.

Insurance Sales Agent

Insurance sales agents are responsible for attracting clients to the insurance company by making them aware of policies and products. They work to accumulate new clients and manage relationships with existing clients. They also work to build or upgrade insurance policies to meet clients’ needs.

They identify new sales opportunities for insurance plans, track claims, handle policy renewals, and identify risk management strategies. To start a career as an insurance agent, you need a minimum of a GED and an insurance license, which you can gain by following your state’s requirements.

Companies That Offer Entry-Level 50k-a-Year Jobs

Entry-level jobs that pay 50k a year can be found at many companies hiring skilled workers, including some companies that are major players in their industries. Below are some of the top companies that offer entry-level positions that pay 50k per year.   

• Philip Morris: Phillip Morris is a cigarette and tobacco manufacturing company in the USA. The company hires many professionals from multiple fields but is currently hiring someone to fill the role of an electrician in the company. 
• Frontier Airlines: Frontier Airlines is an ultra-low-cost carrier company in America and employs around 3,000 staff. With this many staff, you can secure a role in many jobs that don’t require a degree, including a flight attendant job.
• Venegas Steelworks, Inc: This is a family-run iron company that forges its own licensed and bonded iron and steel. The company also specializes in stainless steel and aluminum metals. You can get a job in this company as an ironworker or a blacksmith.
• Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen: Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is a restaurant that operates in over 170 locations in America. The company prides itself on offering good food at an affordable price. This company is presently looking to fill the role of a food service manager.
• Harbor Group Management Company: This property management company manages multifamily and commercial properties. With their decades of experience, you can get a job in the company as a property manager without a college education but may need to have a few years of experience.

Where to Find 50k-a-Year Jobs that Don’t Require a Degree

You can find a job making 50k a year with no degree on all major job search websites, the careers pages of official company websites, and in online communities for the particular job or industry. Below, we explain more about the various places where you can find a job making 50k per year with no degree. 

Online Communities

Every job industry has an online community that you can join. These communities post job openings and connect job seekers to available positions. Joining these communities will help you learn more about the career field as you will get updates on job openings and the latest industry trends, workshops, and training programs.

Company Websites

Every company website has a career page that is regularly updated to showcase job openings in the company. You can use this to your advantage by searching for companies in your industry and searching for job openings through their career pages. Some of them also allow you to apply directly through the website. Before applying, you should check to see if you are qualified for the role.

Job Boards

There are several job boards available today that you can utilize when job hunting. These websites post thousands of available jobs in various locations, daily. You can also request to get daily email notifications of similar job openings. Some of the most popular job boards include Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. 

Consider a College Degree Later in Your Career

While you can start a career without a degree, you should still consider pursuing one later in your career. A bachelor’s degree or associate degree can help you attain heights in your career that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. It gives you the advantage of aiming for higher positions and earning a higher average salary. 

For those who do not want to attend college in person for one reason or the other, an alternative is online degree programs. These are programs that allow you to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree from the comfort of your home. Other alternatives are trade schools, vocational schools, and community colleges, all of which can teach you the skills necessary to start a career in a specific field. 

50k-a-Year Jobs Without a Degree FAQ